Premier League strugglers Cardiff City have joined three other clubs in the race to sign Saints striker Charlie Austin before the January transfer window slams shut at 11pm tonight, according to talkSPORT sources.
The Bluebirds are looking to secure Austin on a loan deal until the end of the season but Southampton are looking for a permanent destination after coming to the conclusion he’s surplus to requirements.
Since Ralph Hasenhuttl’s arrival at the start of December, the 29-year-old striker has dropped down the pecking order at St. Mary’s behind Danny Ings and even Nathan Redmond, who has often been used as a frontman.
Cardiff have been searching for attacking reinforcements over the past month and have already completed the loan signing of Everton’s Oumar Niasse before spending a club-record £17m on Nantes striker Emiliano Sala.
Sala tragically disappeared after an aircraft carrying himself and pilot David Ibbotson went off radar over Guernsey on January 21, the day before he was meant to train with the South Wales club for the first time.
Southampton have already let one striker leave permanently this month after Manolo Gabbiadini moved to Sampdoria, while Steven Davis and Cedric Soares have also been loaned out.
Cardiff may be left with a decision to make if they want to sign Austin on loan, having already registered two loan signings from fellow Premier League clubs this season in the form of Harry Arter and Oumar Niasse.
